Improvement in track-clearers



J. LATHROP & A. K. JOHNSON.

TRACK-CLEARER.

$10,175,716. Patented Apri14, 1876.

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M M W N- PEIERS, PNOTD-ILITHDGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D. C.

\ UNITED STATES PATENT Garret,

JOHN LATHROP AND ANDREW-K. JOHNSON, OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACK-CLEARERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,7 [6, dated April 4, 1 76; application filed March 6, 1876.

To almvlzom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN LATHROP and -ANDREW K. JOHNSON, of Rochester, in the State of Minnesota, have invented an Improvement in Snow-Flows for Railways, of which the following is a specification:

Our improved plow is intended for excavating the snow, elevatingthe same, and then conveying the snow off laterally and dischargor less angle to the track to deliver the snow in the manner most adapted to the particular circumstances, and we arrange the gearing so that the second elevator can be moved upon its turn-table without stopping the machine.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan of this snow-plow. Fig. 2, is a side view, and Fig. 3 is a section, of the turn-table.

The frame of the machine is composedof the side pieces a, upon which the operative parts are mounted, and these are supported by the wheels b b, which are adapted to the railway-track. Upon the frame it is preferable to mount an engine and boiler to drive the main shaft d,- but the power may be derived 7 from a locomotive, or in any desired manner.

The plow at the front end of the frame is made with the side pieces 00, with knives orcutting-edges at the vertical front portions, and the horizontal plow d is preferably of a V shape, in order that the snow may be directed toward the center of the revolving wheel f, that is upon'a shaft, 9, driven by connectingrods to cranks upon the, shaft d. The wheel f is made with blades 3 3, that are placed diagonally between the heads 4 4 4, so that, as the said wheel revolves rapidly by the action of the machinery, the blades will press the snowtoward the centerbf the machine, and throw it off in the form of balls, shavings, or lumps upon the elevator h. This elevator h is formed of scrapers or cross-bars 5' between livered into a hopper formed by the side pieces 1, bottom end pieces m, and incline, and this hopper and incline are mounted upon a circn-- lar base or turn-table, 0, that rests upon the circular bed 1 upon the platform of the plow,

and upon the top and bottom of, the incline a are the elevator-rollers s, with the chains or belts s, and elevators or scrapers 10, that serve to convey the snow that is delivered into the hopper up to the top of the incline and discharge-it. The turn table and elevator can be moved aroundinto any desired position relatively to the plow, and for this purpose a crank shaft, with bevel or worm pinion, and operated by hand, may be employed, so that the snow may be delivered upon the right or left side of the track, and at the desired distance, and in order to drive the elevator s continually, we make use of a shaft, t, and bevel-pinion t driven by a belt or gearing from the shaft 01, and this pinion t revolves the bevel-wheel t upon the vertical shaft u, that is below the center of the turn-table, and provided with a bevel-pinion, 1), near its upper end, that gears into a Wheel, o upon a horizontal shaft, 11 set in the frame of the elevator,

and to which the elevator-roller sis connected by pulleys and bands or. The incline and troughshaped sides of this second elevator are hinged to the frame w by the shaft 10 of the lower elevator-roller, so that the upper end may be raised more or less, according to the height of the bank upon which the snow has tobe delivered, and this elevator is to be supported and raised or lowered by a screw below, or by a mast upon the car-frame and a block and tackle. I

By this arrangement the parts of the snowplow are rendered very compact, strong, and efficient, and the snow is easily delivered in the direction that may be desired from time to time.

We claim as our invention."-

1. The blades 3 ofithe revolving wheel f, set at an inclination to deliver the snow in ballsor pieces near the center of the elevator, in combination with'the plows c d and the elevator h, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the revolving excavating-\vheelf, ot' the side cutting-blades e and horizontal V- shaped plow d, substantially as set forth.

3. The second elevator s, mounted upon a turn table, and receiving the snow from the first elevator into a hopperformed at the lower part of such second elevator, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of an inclined elevator, a turn-table, a platform sustaining such turntable, and gearing to drive such elevator, with a revolving excavating-wheel, and an inclined elevator conveying the snow from the excavatin g-wheel to the second elevator, substantially 

